THE WOOLLEN INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1926, Page 4

THE WOOLLEN INDUSTRY.

AUSTRALIA'S POLICY. •MIND YOUR. OWN BUSINESS." Whether we like it or not (says the "Textile Argus" or Bradford) it is evident that the Australian Government is out to protect the wool manufacturing: industry which is being developed in the Commonwealth. In 1913 there were 22 weaving mills in the Commonwealth; a year ago there were 47. The yardage produced in 1913 was 2,500,000; in the 1923-24 year It was nearly 5,000,000. But in spite of the advantage of having raw material on the spot and no overseas transport for the finished goods, Australian manufacturers have not been able to compete successfully with British manufacturers. And so as" Mr. Pratten, the Minister in charge or the tariff measures, has stated very bluntly, Australia Is out ror protection in the interests of its own manufacturers. So far as can be gathered from the cabled information, a concession has been made in ravour or those rancy goods and novelties —mostly women's wear—which the Australian manufacturer is not in a position to produce. Be it noted, the concession is only on goods "of a class or kind not produced in Australia." The tariff on goods which Australia does produce ha 3 been a severe blow to the heavy woollen district and the Colne Valley. The Australian trade in cheap suiting and overcoatings has been lost, and a good deal or machinery has been idle during the past tew months, with corresponding unemployment, in consequence or the tariffs Introduced last autumn. It would suit the wool textile industry of this country better ir Australia concentrated her efforts on the production of abundant supplies or wool, which is .one or the main sources or the revenues of the Commonwealth, and left the processes of manufacture to those countries which are best equipped for it. The Australian consumer would not suffer. The fact that it has been necessary to apply protection proved that the overseas manufacturer could beat the Australian manufacturer in orlce and quality. At the same time the Commonwealth Is entitled to shape Its own industrial and fiscal policy in its own way, and all that has come out of the protests made on behalf or British manuracturers has been a pointed intimation to "mind your own business."